171 Cold Houses, 4*c. 205 



was introduced into England about the middle of the six- 

 teenth century, and, owing to the unfavorableness of the cli- 

 mate, it is always there cultivated against walls or under 

 glass. 



Practical men have, at all times, found it difficult to culti- 

 vate the peach to perfection ; that is, having its peculiar rich 

 and delicious flavor ; for, in a great many instances, where the 

 trees are grown in houses, the flavor of the fruit is poor and 

 insipid, and little better, if the expression may be used, than a 

 turnip. 



It is my intention to give as correct an idea as possible, in 

 regard to the making of the borders, planting, training, pruning, 

 general management, &c. The formation of the border, I 

 consider the most difficult part ; for, if it is not made properly, 

 it is quite useless to expect to raise good fruit ; and it matters 

 not how much care, time or expense may be spent afterwards, 

 it will never make up for this defect ; and it is always best to 

 do the work thoroughly at first, sparing no pains or expense, 

 as the trees will amply repay for all the extra trouble. 



The border should commence at the back wall inside of the 

 house, and extend outside under the arches, to the dis- 

 tance of twelve feet from the front of the house. The soil 

 should all be taken out to the depth of two feet six inches, 

 sloping the bottom gradually, so that the front will be one 

 foot lower than the back : a drain should run along the front 

 of the border one foot deep, with small cross-drains leading 

 into it, so as to have a perfect command of draining off" all 

 superfluous water, particularly where the bottom is spongy 

 and wet. There should then be laid, on the bottom thus 

 formed, about six inches of stones and rubbish, leaving the 

 depth for the soil two feet. 



TIic soils and manures which I consider best suited to the 

 peach, are three parts of the top sod of good old pasture land. 

 dug up about six or eight inches deep, and laid up in a 

 pile, with the grass side down, for about a year, and never 

 turned ; one eighth part street manure, and the other eighth 

 part decomposed horse or cow dung. I do not approve of 

 turning over and mixing the materials promiscuously together, 

 as I think such repeated intermixture is very injurious to the 

 soil, and, by often turning the compost, it becomes too heavy. 



VOL. XIII. — NO. v. 20 



